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Did you know Kids Count ranked Kansas 19th nationally for child well-being in 2016? While Kansas has worked hard to make our state a place where children and families thrive, the work is far from over.

April is Child Abuse Prevention month, and Kansas Children’s Service League, as the Kansas chapter of Prevent Child Abuse America, reminds everyone that we all have a role to play in healthy child development. Make a commitment to take one simple step to improve Kansas’ Kids Count ranking.

During a budget debate last week, Senate President Susan Wagle offered an amendment that would cut K-12 budgets by $68 million. She argued students would not be impacted because school boards would have to cut “non-classroom” expenses. This is not true.

The Kansas Supreme Court’s most recent school finance ruling makes it clear that all cuts to schools reduce student achievement, especially when they eliminate teachers and support staff.

Five hundred leaders, including representatives of East Central Kansas Economic Opportunity Corporation (ECKAN) were gathered in Washington when news hit that President Trump’s budget would strike core community programs that have broad bipartisan support across the United States. Richard Jackson, Chief Executive Officer of ECKAN, responded by stating the following:

In the ruling handed down by the Kansas Supreme Court that determined the current level of funding for schools is constitutionally inadequate, the justices provided important insight into what is needed in the next school funding formula. Much of their ruling validates what we have known all along.

I’m sure many of you have seen things that have been dumped along our roads. When I see this I ask myself and anyone that will listen, is this just pure Ignorance or stupidity?

Ignorance is the lack of knowledge. The word ignorant is an adjective describing a person in the state of being unaware and is often (incorrectly) used to describe individuals who deliberately ignore or disregard important information or facts.

Stupidity is a lack of intelligence, understanding, reason, wit or sense

One of the focus areas for the Kansas National Education Association-Retired (KNEA-R) is financial stability in retirement. Over 90,000 Kansans, including public-school staff, firefighters, law-enforcement officers, judges, state employees, and city and county employees, receive KPERS benefits. In 2015, Kansas retirees received a total of $1,376,872,982 from KPERS.

CRANTON — Ken Corbet, 54th District member of the Kansas House of Representatives, spoke with constituents Saturday at the Scranton Tavern. The event was hosted by the Osage County Republican Central Committee.

Corbet opened the meeting by distributing information related to the budget passed in House Bill 2178, which was later vetoed by the governor. The document touted HB 2178 as “the largest tax increase in state history.” The House voted to override the veto, but the Senate came three votes shy of clearing the governor.

TOPEKA — Greetings from our unseasonably warm state Capitol. It has been a very busy time as we reach the first big deadline of the legislative session, turnaround day. This is the day by which most bills have to have left their house of origin and be passed over to the other chamber for consideration. This time of year sees committees trying to get their work done and long days on the House floor as bills are debated and voted upon.

TOPEKA — While I believe the tax plan offered by Senate Democrats was more structurally sound, the next best option passed last week with bi-partisan support. Since it was not amended, the tax plan goes to the governor's desk. The question is whether he will veto it or let it go into law without his signature.

I voted for this tax plan because I believe it is the first step in ending the governor's reckless policies and putting Kansas on the long road back to fiscal responsibility.

Public employees dedicate their careers to serving the people of Kansas. These men and women all across Kansas teach in our schools, protect us from danger, respond to emergencies, and keep our roads and bridges safe. All of them commit their lives to serving Kansas.